EP REVIEW: Micro – Jinjer

There has been a surge in incredible female fronted metal acts in recent years and one of the stars that shines the brightest is JINJER. After the huge success of their 2016 release King Of Everything and the recent reissue of 2014’s Cloud Factory the Ukrainian outfit are striking while the iron is hot to provide us with their latest EP entitled Micro which is due for release on 11th January via Napalm Records. Can they continue their rise to prominence?

Ape begins on a rather eccentric note intertwining chaos and melody as it progresses. The track has a jarring nature which gives off a mechanical vibe in places alongside some frantic blast beats thrown in for good measure. Dreadful Moments continues with a similarly unnerving, discordant demeanour. The chorus is surprisingly calming and provides a brief respite from being bludgeoned from all sides. The abrasive bass tones cut through the mix only adding to the unravelling chaos. The galloping, jabbing groove of Teacher, Teacher sucks you in with rapping style verses before the vocals ebb and flow between an intriguing, emotional blend of sharp screams and subtle melodies. For a short period the track abruptly descends into madness with an energetic round of blast beats.

Perennial initially treads a different path to its predecessors. Spoken lyrics and echoing guitars entice you into a whirlwind of high tempo riffing and soaring vocals. This track feels slightly more digestible, following a less elaborate, maniacal pace but proves to be just as effective. Micro is a bit of a curveball in the shape of percussive acoustic stylings. Leaving the EP on an instrumental is quite a bold choice but displays how multi-faceted JINJER can be.

Micro proves to be quite an intense listen as JINJER free themselves of any artistic shackles, not afraid to get creative. Their eccentricity keeps you guessing at every turn with an obscure blend of technicality and melody which may be an acquired taste to some listeners. Whilst relatively short in construction there is plenty to digest and discover throughout this release as the Ukrainian outfit show why they are one of the most intriguing bands to come to prominence in recent years. Micro may leave you wanting but will satiate fans enough until a future full length release.

Rating: 7/10

Micro is set for release on 11th January via Napalm Records

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